USVI-On-Line

Okay, I jumped on the cheap airfare for mid-July and booked an 11-day trip! Then I went to my villa spreadsheet and discovered that pretty much all my favorites are wide open for July. Guess it's really the off-season, eh? I wonder why? We traveled once in early July and it seemed like a great time to be there. Well, what isn't a great time for St. John?

Anyway, for a number of reasons, my first choice villa for this trip is Skyflower, which sounds almost too perfect to be true. Big veranda with mountain view, hot tub, simple but appealing decor, and NO STAIRS if we don't use the 2nd bedroom. Which we probably won't, but we want the 2nd bedroom to be there just in case I can talk my daughter and her husband into joining us. So... just perfect.

As far as I can deduce, "Great Caribbean Getaways" is their primary manager, and they charge 5% service fee. But if you just take that 5% as part of the price and compare - still a great deal. Especially with the 10% discount that I was immediately offered for a 10-day rental. I've been happy with the quick and professional email responses to my questions from GCG, so I haven't tried to call the owners directly. Should I? I hate to bother them unnecessarily.

But this seems almost too easy. Is there something I'm overlooking, some red flag? Anybody have anything to tell me about either Skyflower or Great Caribbean Getaways? Feel free to message me if you don't feel comfortable responding here.

Thanks, everyone! I'm just loving the wealth of information that flows through this forum (and the other other forum - I post on both).

If you already contacted the Management/Listing Company, I don't think it is fair to go around them and call the owner.

Have a great vacation. 11 days in July sounds perfect!

In the process of booking Skyflower myself for late May. While I don't enjoy paying the 5% "service fee" it's rather small when you look at the big picture, flights, jeep rental, dinners out...Plus GCG lets you pay with credit card earning you 2% back. And I'm not gonna complain about 3%. Here's hoping we picked a great villa!!!!

NeedMe, I wasn't talking about calling the owners to get around the management company, just thinking of the advice I keep reading to contact the owners personally before renting from VRBO.

superdavenj66 wrote:In the process of booking Skyflower myself for late May. While I don't enjoy paying the 5% "service fee" it's rather small when you look at the big picture, flights, jeep rental, dinners out...Plus GCG lets you pay with credit card earning you 2% back. And I'm not gonna complain about 3%. Here's hoping we picked a great villa!!!!

Honestly, I don't have a problem with paying a service fee as long as they're upfront about it, and some service is actually being rendered. In this case the price they're charging is more than reasonable, even with the service fee. And if that lets you pay by credit card, all the better. The service fee is listed on the VRBO site and was clearly stated in the quote I got back from GCG, so I don't have a problem with it.

I'm just making a final check to see if there are any red flags out there about this management company. I've read so many rave reviews of the villa itself (and of the owners, who sometimes rent out just the downstairs) that I'm not terribly concerned about the villa.

I hope you have a great trip, SuperDave! Be sure to post a trip report, and leave me "hello" in the guest book.

dreamshark wrote:NeedMe, I wasn't talking about calling the owners to get around the management company, just thinking of the advice I keep reading to contact the owners personally before renting from VRBO.

I guess I'm just confused as to why you would contact the owner if GCG is also the listing company for that part of the villa on VRBO and they have answered all your questions. Anyway, be sure and let us know how the villa is, it looks really nice and I don't recall anyone on the forum staying there before.

needmesomesun wrote:

dreamshark wrote: I guess I'm just confused as to why you would contact the owner if GCG is also the listing company for that part of the villa on VRBO and they have answered all your questions. Anyway, be sure and let us know how the villa is, it looks really nice and I don't recall anyone on the forum staying there before.

Now that you mention it....

The answer is that my understanding of how VRBO and "management companies" work evolved during the course of this discussion and the related one that you also responded to. Initially I was just surprised that my inquiry email was answered by a management company that I had never heard of until that point. After all the back and forth here and a little more googling I am satisfied that the management company is a legitimate one and that this is a fairly standard (if mildly controversial) way of doing business on VRBO. So I am proceeding with the villa rental. I feel like I understand the entire process a little better now. Thanks for your input.